Doubling the Pell Grant invests in America's future
Last August, as higher education entered its first academic year amidst a pandemic, low- and moderate-income families were twice as likely to "cancel all plans" for postsecondary education, according to a survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. As the country prepares to enter a second year, still grappling with COVID-19, America cannot afford to have huge populations, particularly those with the most to gain from a college degree, walk away entirely from postsecondary education. To ensure students do not feel like higher education is out of their reach, it's time for Congress to invest in America by doubling the maximum Pell award.
The surest remedy for income inequality is postsecondary education. Numerous studies have demonstrated the impact that a college degree has on earnings and vaulting graduates into the middle class. As the country learns how to build itself back, it's now up to Congress to act. The budget resolution passed by Congress last month provides a way to double the maximum Pell award, paving the way to higher education. That would be a win for every low-income family in America and every member of Congress who serves them.
If our country is serious about fixing income inequality, doubling the grant is a very easy, low-risk first step.
For nearly 50 years, the Pell Grant has been the nation's foundational investment in higher education. In the program's early days, a Pell grant covered more than three-quarters of a recipient's college costs. But as states steadily cut college and university budgets, and household incomes remained flat, the grant now covers less than a third of those costs.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/doubling-the-pell-grant-invests-in-americas-future/ar-AAO4wFA
mopinko
(69,804 posts)between my pell grants, and my illinois state scholarship, my 1st trip to college was free.
6 yrs later i went to a more expensive school, 3/4 time, and i had to take out loans.
but i think it still gets you a long way. my older son mostly got through 4 yrs w that, il scholarhsips, and a few grand he got for doing a year in americorp.
he tutored about 10 hrs a week, and that was all he needed.
he had free rent at the time, so that helped a lot. but we rly have to at least give people a base of support to get through state schools.
bahboo
(16,234 posts)went to an expensive school for back then so had to pay some, but the scholarships helped make it possible...
Lars39
(26,093 posts)leave college when fucking Reagan drastically cut Pell grants.